No Obama, keep Brown

All bad things come to an end, and Campaign 2012 is no exception. Hallelujah!

On Tuesday, the voters could help the country and Massachusetts by denying Barack Obama a second term, and giving Scott Brown a new one. The reason is simple and straightforward: The president doesn’t deserve a second chance, and the senator has earned it.

Election campaigns are not pretty, but Campaign 2012 has been particularly ugly. With the Supreme Court opening the floodgates on corporate and special-interest contributions, more money has been spent on distortion, hype and character assassination than ever. I found myself sitting in front of the television set with a remote control in my hand, switching channels whenever those venomous sound bites came on. It was an exercise in frustration.

After Tuesday, there will be an end to lies disguised as facts, claims of phony accomplishments, stage-managed comments from former asbestos workers allegedly victimized by one candidate or the other. No more tedious debates, biased moderators, and endless drivel about how the middle class has been “hammered.” No more promises of leading us “forward” when what they really mean is leading us by the nose. No more conflicting opinion polls that can be manipulated, and change every five minutes.

End of the scramble for undecided voters who might swing the election. Frankly, I never understood how so many people can still be undecided. After a marathon election season, and with the choices being crystal clear, thoughtful voters should have been able to make up their minds a long time ago rather than casting ballots on last-minute impressions.

All campaigns sink into a swamp of negativism, but the Democrats manage to claim the high ground by claiming to be “progressive” — in contrast with what they consider as the other party’s hopelessly regressive nature. They also have perfected the politics of scare. The latest example is the warning that the re-election of Sen. Brown would ensure a GOP majority in the Senate, which in turn would have apocalyptic consequences. Democrats say it would dismantle public education, strip away women’s rights, weaken national security, deprive the elderly of health care, and all but lead to Armageddon.

Now that Campaign 2012 is about to expire, the voters take over. The decision they reach Tuesday will determine the future of the country and, closer to home, that of Massachusetts.

Peeling away all the hype, the facts speak for themselves. Barack Obama was a relatively unknown Chicago politician when he was catapulted to fame by novelty, personal charisma and good luck. His lack of qualification for the White House was masked by oratorical skills and political salesmanship. He campaigned on the promise of “hope and change,” and the message resonated with people looking for a fresh start after the disappointments of the previous administration. He faced an opponent from an older generation and managed to appeal to the politically correct impulses of liberals and the pride of minorities. His supporters created an image that made him “the chosen one.”

While he inherited a severe recession, and tried hard to cope with the challenges, his domestic policies — borrowing, spending and massive stimulus programs — failed to produce sufficient progress. He forced through a cumbersome and costly health care reform that will enlarge the already unmanageable deficit. Having promised to unite the nation, he turned out to be a dividing force. His apology-driven foreign policies eroded America’s prestige and leading role around the world. As time went by, it has become obvious that the emperor had no clothes.

Mitt Romney has the executive experience, management skills and history of success that qualify him for the task of leading the country through economic hard times. He can balance social and fiscal responsibility, and he also knows how to balance a budget. While acknowledging the proper role of federal government, he knows that free-enterprise capitalism is the key to prosperity. A person of integrity and good character, he has solid moral grounding. Those qualities, and more, would serve him well in the White House.

The Brown-Warren contest offers a scenario in reverse. It features an outstanding incumbent who deserves to be retained versus a challenger who has very little good to offer. Re-electing Scott Brown would be a foregone conclusion anywhere but in the One-Party State of Massachusetts, where Democrats see themselves entitled to all seats of power.

An effective state legislator, Scott Brown was elected to the Senate, where he has made a name for himself as the champion of bipartisan collaboration. He has kept his campaign promises, sponsored important legislation and has worked tirelessly for his constituents. He is fiscally conservative and moderate on social issues. A colonel in the National Guard, he has stood for national security. The father of two daughters, he has promoted women’s rights and family values.

There’s nothing to gain, and much to lose, by making a change. Even without the character issues that plagued her campaign, Ms. Warren would be a liability. She comes from the left wing of the Democratic Party which believes that higher taxes, more regulations and central control are the main ingredients of good government. The state’s legislative delegation already consists of liberal Democrats who march in lockstep with the party’s agenda. The last thing Massachusetts needs is to add one more to the list.

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